A Brief Exposition of Matthew, Biblical commentary · Part · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Christ sheweth in a parable how many that are last shall be first, to ver. 16. Forewarneth his disciples of his sufferings, to ver. 20. Dischargeth prelacie among them, ver. 29. And healeth two blind men.
Ver. 1. FOr the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an housholder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a peny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3. And he went about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place,
4. And said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, I wil give you. And they went their way.
5. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6. And about the Eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7. They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8. So when even was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last to the first.
9. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a peny.
10. But when she first came, they supposed that they should have received more, and they likewise received every man a peny.
11. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house,
12. Saying, these last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equall unto us, which have born the burden and heat of the day.
13. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a peny.
14. Take that thine is, and go thy way, I wil give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wil with mine own? i… thine eye evil because I am good?
16. So the last shal be first, and the first shal be last: for many be called, but few chosen.
THe scope of the parable is, to shew, that such as conceit of the merit of their works, are of no estimation with G…d, who giveth eternal life of Free grace, and not of merit. The parable is propounded, to ver. 16. And applyed to the purpose or scope, ver. 16. To this intent, as in the vineyard all these labourers who esteemed much of their own labour, notwithstanding they had wrought longer then others, yet were last taken notice of, least esteemed of, and disappointed of their expectation, and rebuked as adversaries to Free grace: but such as had no confidence in their own working, were first rewarded, and liberally dealt with. So is it in the visible church, (which is the vineyard of the Lord) such as esteem most of their own works, merits & sufferings, shall be least esteemed of by God: but such as have no confidence in their own works, shal be first taken notice of, and most liberally dealt with; Thus the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. A reason whereof is given from the paucity of the Elect, in comparison of the greater number of these who are externally called, but not elect; Herein giving us to understand, that it is grace to be imployed in any service or suffering for Christ with any sincerity; and it is grace to have a low estimation of our selves, and of whatsoever we do or suffer for the Gospel; as also to have our persons and works acceptable to God, and graciously rewarded with eternal life; it doth flow altogether from Gods grace, & free love, electing such a one unto holiness & blessednes, and not from any good thing in the person; And here let us remember, that neither similitude nor parable are to be followed further then the scope and intention of the speaker: true it is, that many witty similitudes may be made here, to represent Gods care of his church, men … duty in serving God in their callings, Gods incouraging men to work, by setting before them a reward, Gods calling of some men in their youth, some in their old days, the distributing to every man the reward of his work after this life is ended, and such like; but these doctrines are not soundly grounded on this, place, wherein the scope only is to be the rule of the exposition… wherfore if a man once depart, he may easilyfal, not only in impertinent questions, but also in perilous conceptions, and such as are contrary to the scope: for if the… Penny be the reward; and the reward be eternall life; if the penny be made Hire, or due by debt, and all the workers do get the Penny, then by this parable all shall be saved, and all shall be saved by merit of their work; then all shall be equall in the gift of eternall life, which they make the Penny of reward, and so none shall be first or last; and none shall be workers in the vineyard or visible Church but Elect only: and so the parable shall be close everted, and turned to be contrary to the scope, expresly declared in the text. Thus much may suffice for advertisement to be sober in the exposition not only of this, but of al other parables, that nothing be a ground to build upon, save what the Lord the Speaker intendeth as his scope.
Ver. 17. And Iesus going up to Ierusalem, took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
18. Behold, we go up to Ierusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief Priests, and unto the Scribes, and they shall condemn him to death.
19. And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge, and to crucifie him, and third the day he shall rise again.
In Christ his forewarning the Disciples of his sufferings, & that in the way that he went the last time to Jerusalem: Learn, 1. How necessary it is that the doctrine of the crosse be often inculcated, that being provided for before, it may trouble us lesse when it shall come; for this is it which in sundry times before Christ had told them. 2. The often foretelling of our Lords passion, doth serve to confirme us of the resolute willingnesse of the Redeemer to suffer for us; for he knew all that he was to suffer, and was never dashed. 3. It is necessary that we never separate the consideration of the crosse from the issue, nor Christs death from his resurrection, which followed, lest we be overcome and stumble at the crosse; for Christ doth alwayes joyn the mentioning of both together.
Ver. 20. Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children, with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left in thy Kingdom.
Concerning the requ…st made to Christ for preferment of the two Apostles, James, and John: Learn, 1. How hard a thing it is to be rid of the love of this world, and of pleasa…t dreames about it; for still the Apostles and their friends did dream of an earthly Kingdom of Christ, and of worldly honour unto his servants, notwithstanding Christ did so often tell them the contrary, …and did study to prepare them for the crosse rather, in this world. 2. How necessary it is for all men to watch over their hearts, that the love of the honour of this world creep not in upon them, when occasion of a Bait doth offer; for in hope of prevailing by their mothers mony, these two chiefe Apostles are thus tickled and intangled with a vain and corrupt lust. 3. What means and mony men will imploy, to gain any earthly thing which they love; the mother for her naturall bands with Christ, must be set on to make suit; a preface must be made in general in her speech to oblige Christ for fear of refuse, if the particular should first have been propounded; I desire a certain thing of thee, saith she, Grant that these my sons, &c.
Ver. 22. But Iesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be bapptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
From Christs answer, learn, 1. That when the Ministers of the Gospel hunt for high places in the world, they wo… not what they are doing, nor how foolish they are in so doing; as Christ saith here, Ye know not what ye ask. 2. The Prefer… ferment and Kingdome which we should affect, is in an other world, and we must prepare us for the crosse with Christ, ere we come to the Kngdome with him: Are ye able to drinke of the cup that I shall drinke off? 3. From the two disciples undertaking, learn, that men least acquainted with the crosse, are most confident undertakers; for they say, We are able.
Verse 23. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptisme that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Christ putteth them in mind of suffering, rather then reigning, and of suffering in this world, ere they could reign in the world to come. Hence learn, 1. Such as suffer for Christ, suffer no other thing but such as Christ did suffer also; for, Ye shall drink, saith he, of my cup. 2. A certain measure of affliction was fitted and measured out for Christ and his followers, which Christ esteemed to be but light, and of most short indurance; to wit, A cup soon drunk out, a douk, a dipping, or a sprinkling with affliction, A Baptism, as the originall doth import. 3. To appoint what degrees every Beleever shall have in Glory, in comparison one of another, or who shall have lesse, who more, is no part of the commission given to Christ, when he was sent into the world; it appertaineth not unto Christ. Againe, It is not his without the Father, as the petitioner conceived: It is not mine to give: As likewise speaking as a man, more sib to one than to another, as here, he was looked on, or as if at his own pleasure, for gratifying of friends, he might distribute degrees of Glory in Heaven; in this sense also he saith, It is not mine to give, save to these, &c. 4. There shall be degrees of Glory in Heaven, comparable to sitting on the right hand to some, and on the left hand to others; for our Lord denyeth not this, but insinuateth it in manner of his answer. 5. These degrees of Glory shall not be distributed with respect unto mens works or deservings; or unto any thing in the persons to be glorified, but meerly according to the good pleasure of God, and his decree, preparing and predetermining what shal be every mans' measure; for, It shall be given to them for whom it is prepared, saith he: and in this sort of distribution, Christ… denyeth not, but it belonged unto him, as one in substance, and Government with the Father, to give decrees of Glory; for the Originall is, It is not mine to give, save to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Ver. 24. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
The rest of the Apostles were no lesse ambitious then these were in this particular, yet are they angry at these two. Doct. Men will be angry at others for a fault whereof they themselves are guilty, and nothing grieved for it in their own person; as the ten were moved with indignation, when they heard this, and yet were neither free of the same fault themselves, nor grieved for it; so diversly is sin shaped in our own person, and in others.
Verse 25. But Iesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great, exercise authority upon them.
26. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your Minister.
27. And whosoever will be chiefe among you, let him be your servant.
Our Lord taketh occasion from this, to beat down, and root out this wicked weed of prelacy: This strife for State and Majority of Power was reproved before, and yet it is not amended. Doct. 1 Hard is it to root out the seed of a beloved sin, especially the root of prelaticall ambition; it cannot be drawn out, till it be repented, for it is hard to put it out of the Apostles hearts. 2. Our Lord did esteem it a fit means to cut off strife, to take away all domination in the church, and all Majority of Power among the men of one office in his house: for where there is no higher place, where there is no great powto one then to another, there all strife for the place of more power doth cease; It shall not be so among you, saith Christ. 3. The Lord alloweth domination, and Principality, and Greanesse, and exercising of authority in the civill State, but will not allow it among the Ministers of the Gospel; for having granted domination to civill Governours, he excludeth church-men from it, saying, But it shall not be so among you. 4. It is not the abuse of Majority of Power, which our Lord forbiddeth his Ministers, but simply and absolutely he dischargeth All Majority of power, all Greatness of Iurisdiction of one over the rest, and doth curb the very wishes and will of being great among their Fellow-Ministers, speaking to every one of his Ministers, saying, Whosoever will be great among you. 5. So far must the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel be from affecting State, and Majority of Power over the rest, that as they would please our Lord, they must set themselves to serve the rest of their Brethren, and to promove the worke of Christ each in others hands, by maintaining the credit each of others Ministery; for he saith, Let him be your Minister, or Servant. 6. Not only doth our Lord discharge all majority of Power among the Apostles, and in their persons among the Preachers of the Gospel, but also all stately Primacy, or Dignitary Priority: All Chiefness, albeit without jurisdiction, such as is constant and unchangeable Precedency in Assemblies; and therefore he prescribed the curbing of this inclination, by injoyning the study of submission mutuall, and each man serving of the rest, for the furtherance of the common work; for, Let him be your servant, importeth this. 3. If this command do not prevail with the ambitious party, but he must needs bring forth his ambitious desires, then the rest of the Ministers are warranted to diminish of that mans estimation, and to account the lesse of him, by so much as he is ambitiously inclined to a principality, and majority over the rest; for so doth the words beare, Let him be your Servant, that is, Let him be so esteemed of, and no more.
Verse 28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransome for many.
Our Lord doth clear his Doctrine by his own example, shewing them how he humbled himselfe for the publick good. Doct. 1. The example of our Lords humiliation of himselfe serveth to curb all ambition in his Ministers, and if it prevaile not, shall bear witness against them; for, Even the Son of Man, saith he, came not to be ministred unto. 2. Christ in his first coming, came not to take up an earthly dominion, or a stately preheminence, as his Disciples imagined, but came in the shape and state of a servant, and behaved himself so, as he was ready for the good of his Disciples to wash their feet; for he came not to reign in a worldly manner, but to serve in the externall Ministery of the Gospell; He came, saith he, to minister. 3. Ministers should not onelyonly quit prelacy for the good of the Church, but their life also, if need bet, for Christ out of the Love to mens Salvation, not onelyonly emptied himselfe of Stately Dominion, but also emptied himselfe of Liberty and Life, And gave himselfe a ransom for many.
Ver. 29. And as they departed from Iericho, a great multitude followed him.
30. And behold two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Iesus passed by, cryed out, saying, have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.
Among these that countenance Christ, and follow him from Jericho, two are marked. Doct. 1. Of all the multitude of Christs followers these are the most remarkable persons, who give unto Christ most imployment, and draw most vertue by faith out of him: therefore above all, These two blind men are specially here noted. 2. It is wisdom to seek of God the greatest things, whatsoever else we need; for these men are not so curious for Alms of Mony, albeit they were Beggers, as to have the benefit of the Mediators mercy, Have mercy on us, say they. 3. Whosoever crave any benefit by Christ, must be cleare in this point, that Christ is the promised Messiah? for, Son of David is their great argument. 4. We must beleeve his power and love as God incarnate, able and willing to save us; for so do they, saying, O Lord, thou Son of David.
Ver. 31. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cryed the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
From the discouragement off…red unto them: Learne, 1. It is no new thing that such as in appearance are following Christ, do hinder these who are following him in ea…est; for, The multitude rebuked these poor men, and will have them to hold their peace. 2. But it is wisdom for such as beleeve in Christ, the more they are opposed, the more to seek him, and to take no answer from any, but from himselfe: for so doth these blind men, who do not forsake their petition, till it be granted.
Ver. 32. And Iesus stood stil, and called them, and said, What wil ye that I shal do unto you?
33. They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
34. So Iesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight: and they followed him.
Christ heareth them, and falleth in conference with them. Doct. 1. Christ taketh notice of such suppliants as the multitude doth despise. He standeth still to hear these blind mens suit. 2. Where there is Faith and Sincerity, the Lord will draw it forth to open view for his owne glory, and the good of the Believer, therfore, He asketh what they would have; that it might be known that they did not seek money, but the fruit of his divine power. 3. When misery is laid forth in faith before Christ, he meeteth it with compassion, as here in these blind men, for he is a compassionate high priest. 4. It is easie for Christ to do every greatest work, as here to open the eyes of the blind, and to give sight to them; for, He touched their eyes, and they immediately received sight. 5. It is reason that what gift we get of Christ, we imploy it for his honour; for, Their eyes received sight, and they followed him.